Chennai-based band wins 'Kingfisher Kerala Rocks 2008'

Kochi, Mar 9 (UNI) Chennai-based band 'Blood and Iron' has won the 'Kingfisher Kerala Rocks 2008' contest, while local rock bands 'Heretic' and 'Illuminity' were declared runners-up after the mega finals here last night.

'Warhorse Chained' from Palluruthy, Kochi, was judged the band with the 'Best Onstage Performance'.

Blood and Iron won a cash award of Rs 1,00,000 and a contract for a one-year performance at Kingfisher events worth Rs 1,00,000. The runners-up received a cash award of Rs 25,000.

Kerala has for long been the stronghold of rock music in South India and it was with the aim of helping to discover exceptional rock talent that Kingfisher had started the 'Kingfisher Kerala Rocks' contest from 2007.

Announcing the winners, Mr Shekar Ramamurthy, Deputy President, UB Limited, said the talent hunt had offered a much-needed platform for young people to showcase their extraordinary and varied talent in rock music. As the talent hunt was to be an annual event, he expressed confidence that the country would witness many more talented rock bands coming out every year.

Besides live performances from the three finalists, 'Sling Shot,' the winner of 'Kingfisher Kerala Rocks 2007,' and Kerala's popular band 'Avial' presented electrifying performances as part of the mega finals, held at Bolgatty Palace.

A total of 58 participants had registered for the talent hunt, of which 42 performed in the auditions held at Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram. The semifinals saw the contest narrowing to ten bands, of which three were short-listed for the mega finals.

UNI ARC DS MIR KN1606